Pro-Kannada outfits have called for a shutdown in Karnataka on April 12 in response to Tamil Nadu’s demand that the Centre set up the Cauvery Management Board, PTI reported on Thursday.
The deadline to set up the board ended on March 29. It is expected to ensure that the Supreme Court’s February 16 ruling on the allocation of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is implemented.
Earlier on Thursday, the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, had organised a protest in Chennai against the Centre’s delay in implementing the top court’s order to form the board. Workers of the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, had also organised a day-long strike on Tuesday.
During a protest near Karnataka’s Attibele town on Thursday, Vatal Nagaraj, the leader of the Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, urged the Centre not to yield to the pressure from leaders in Tamil Nadu. He also warned Tamil actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, who have supported Tamil Nadu’s demand, from coming to Karnataka “under any circumstances”.
“We will not let the movies of Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan to be showed in Karnataka,” Nagaraj said.
On February 16, the Supreme Court had ordered the Centre to set up the Cauvery board within six weeks. The Centre’s delay in setting up the board has irked political parties in Tamil Nadu.
On March 31, the Tamil Nadu government had filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against the central government. In its plea, the state government sought action against Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha and Water Resources Secretary UP Singh for “wilfully disobeying” the court’s order. The top court will hear the petition on April 9.
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